We've just nailed down the date for Victoria's next tournament and this event is going to be a special one!

Victoria Bike Polo Presents: Balls in the City, will be a two day tournament and will be one of the main events to close out the Victoria International Cycling Festival on the final weekend, June 11th and 12th.

We are planning to run two courts on a location to be determined in downtown Victoria. We've had some trouble getting a location approved so please bear with us, this event will happen and we'll let you know the location details as soon as we have a better idea.

Registration will max out at 24 teams, please see the form linked below. Tournament format has not been finalized yet, but it is likely to be swiss rounds on day 1 and double elimination on day two.

NEW UPDATE !!
Registration opened Thursday, 4/28/2011 at 7:00 PM PST, and as it stands right now the tournament is officially FULL.

Any team that does not pay its registration fee by May 12th at 10PM PST will be bumped off the list and the next team will be moved up. I will be emailing all the teams today and providing the information for how to pay the registration fee through paypal.

This event will be held in conjunction with the Victoria International Cycling Festival (May 27th - June 12th 2011), which will be featuring a number of exciting cycling events including sprints, time trials, a Grand Prix road race, dirt jumping, freeriding, and trials comps.
See http://vicf.ca/index.php for more info on the festival and events!

Most festival events will be located right in downtown Victoria along the habourfront and the VICF committee is expecting crowds of thousands to attend the events.

I'm happy to announce that the Hotel Grand Pacific is the official presenting sponsor for the VICF Balls in the City tournament, as well as for the Harbour Sprints Race Series which will be held between 7pm and 9pm on May 27, June 3 and June 10.
For more info on the race series or to register if you want to race on Friday June 10th
check out: http://harboursprints.com/

NEW UPDATE !!
The Hotel Grand Pacific (www.hotelgrandpacific.com) as the presenting sponsor for the Balls in the City tournament, the hotel is looking forward to welcoming all Bike Polo participants and has offered a special rate of $119 accessible from June 9th through June 13th. The rate is subject to availability so book early! To access this special rate , please go tohttps://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?HotelId=13727&RateplanID=8...
or contact the hotel reservations team at (250)386-0450 or toll free at 1-800-663-7550 and quote rate #843136.

Thrifty's Foods is the official food sponsor for the entire festival and will be providing food for athletes during the tournament.http://www.thriftyfoods.com/

Your King , mine where too. What the hell I might just move to Canada since if i make it here it shall be my 3rd trip this year including Calgary and my personal favourite < the Victoria Winter Mixer, which i should be attending as reigning North American and World Champion , if you believe everything you read in DAB magazine.(which i still haven't read , but i hear it is gospel)

OMG i am 13th to sign up . It's my lucky effin number . We were 12th in Tempe (13th would have been a no no for Calgary) I can drink 13 snakebites before my game deteriorates , it,s my wee brothers birthday , it's my birthday plus 4 , it's how many of my club members that refused to play with me because of my separated shoulder , it's how many pounds i have to gain to reach my fighting weight of 230lbs ........ya get the jist . It's my year for polo. Can't wait to see ya all in Victoria. Shout me when yer building the courts and i'll slap on some factor 70 and a rashy and break out the snakebites .

Hey west coast polo friends if you are on couchsurfing.com there is a bike polo group that is a part of the cyclist group. If you want to host some out of town polo players now or in the futer you should at least check it out. http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=21045

Hey people, what's up. Registration coming as soon as we have the court location confirmed. Should be soon. In the meantime, here is a local news video of me and Andres messing around in a parking lot. We knocked the ball into the water at the end. Nobody can say "balls" on TV, haha.

If you haven't heard about JumpShip yet, you have now been informed that it's going to be RAD! and happening at the same time as the tournament.

So I've updated the event posting above, there are a few changes to take note of but I will go over them here for simplicity's sake:

First, the location is now to be determined. The original Wharf street location will not be happening as we couldn't get city approval. We are planning to run two courts and have a few locations in the works but are awaiting approval before we can confirm anything. Please bear with us, this event will happen and we'll let you know the location details as soon as we have a better idea.

Tournament format has not been finalized yet, but it is likely to be swiss rounds on day 1 and double elimination on day two.

For those going to Pender this coming weekend who were hoping to pay in advance, unfortunately this means that registration won't open until after the Polo Retreat. However, I highly doubt that this tournament will fill up right away so if you are confident that you are coming and plan to register as soon as it opens you are welcome to pay us in advance. Obviously if you end up not being able to register because it fills up too quickly we will reimburse you the cost.

I'm happy to announce that the Hotel Grand Pacific is the official sponsors of this event, and they are also sponsoring the Harbour Sprints race series which will be held between 7pm and 9pm on May 27, June 3 and June 10.
For more info on the race series or to register if you want to race on Friday June 10th
check out: http://harboursprints.com/

We are currently in talks with the Hotel Grand Pacific and they would like to offer a special rate on their luxurious hotel rooms in downtown Victoria for athletes. We don't have a final price nailed down yet but please indicate on the registration form if you are interested in this option since a gauge of interest level will help us to settle the price. We will contact all who indicate interest and let you know how to get the special athletes rate.http://www.hotelgrandpacific.com/

Thrifty's Foods is the official food sponsor for the entire festival and will be providing food for athletes during the tournament.http://www.thriftyfoods.com/

Sweet.
What's up with the local club housing? It's nice that a hotel is offering a discounted rate (and I can see it working if we can get 4 people on the cost of one room) but how much space would there be with the locals?
And also, bummer about not being able to do the wharf street location. Does the VICF have any pull with the city? Maybe they can get that approval for you.
(edit) also, the google spreadsheet isn't working at the moment of this edit.
thanks again, looking forward to visiting victoria.

The Hotel Grand Pacific (www.hotelgrandpacific.com) is the presenting sponsor for the VICF Harbour Sprint Series as well as for Victoria Bike Polo presents: Balls in the City. The hotel is looking forward to welcoming all bike polo participants and has offered a special rate of $119 accessible from June 9th through June 13th. The rate is subject to availability so book early! To access this special rate, please go to https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?HotelId=13727&RateplanID=8... or contact the hotel reservations team at (250)386-0450 or toll free at 1-800-663-7550 and quote rate #843136.

hey nick, just wondering if there is any confirmation email going on with registrations? It would help us know if there were any premature entries and if those people will be alerted to register again. thanks.

Any team that does not pay its registration fee by May 12th at 10PM PST (this gives you two weeks to pay)
will be bumped off the list and the next team will be moved up and given 5 days to pay their fee and confirm their spot.

I have emailed all the team captains with information for how to pay the registration fee through paypal.
Registration cost is $30/team. If you have any questions about payment please email me personally and I'll try to clarify things.

If you want to join a team I would strongly suggest you contact the team captain of the team you want to join, and have the team captain contact me to update the spreadsheet once they have confirmed your place on their team.

For anyone who wants to join the team Bill's Posse, contact me directly and I'll correspond with Bill on your behalf.

hay yaall i have a friend that want to play really bad he is a high end C player and rides hard he is lookin to be a third wheel or fouth wheel on a team this is his frist polo tounrie so lets make it happen for him

robbie

two asshole's don't make it right"
BUTT three asshole's make a good team"

hay yaall i have a friend that want to play really bad he is a high end C player and rides hard he is lookin to be a third wheel or fouth wheel on a team this is his frist polo tounrie so lets make it happen for him

robbie

two asshole's don't make it right"
BUTT three asshole's make a good team"

This is a reminder to all the teams that have not yet paid for their team's registration, any team that does not pay its registration fee in full by Thursday May 12th, at 10PM PST, will lose their spot in the tournament and the next team on the list will be offered 5 days to pay their registration fee to confirm their spot.

There are currently two teams on the waiting list and this rule will be strictly enforced in fairness to those teams so please endeavour to make the registration payment in a timely manner.

I've sent an email out to all the team captains with instructions on how to pay the registration fee ($30) through paypal. If you are on a team that has not yet paid please tell your captain to do so asap.

You are always welcome in VIctoria Phred!
Too bad you can't make the whole weekend but we'd love to have you come out and help reffing and such, that would be a really big help. And I mentioned to BIll last night that you'd play with him on saturday and he sounded happy to hear it.

There is a discount if you purchase your ticket from the clipper 7 days in advance. also use the promo code "THANKS" and you get 10% off. Also I use my mom's AAA card discount and they have never checked. The blackball (from port angeles) or BC ferries (from tsawwassen near vancouver) are obviously cheaper but then you need to get to those terminals. the black ball is conveinant because you arrive in downtown victoria, and there is no need to have a car in victoria so you can just take the ferry as a walk on passenger. BC ferries arrives in swartz bay which is like 20 miles out of town though there are buses that you can put your bike on, or you can ride it. hope that helps!

I will be arriving on Thursday evening and coming back monday afternoon any chance one of you lovely victorians might have a couch or floor for me to crash on for those evenings.
If you do please feel free to email me directly as I don't check this website to often.leon.outdoor@gmail.com

Kiersten I totally recommend Chateau Victoria , fantastic bike friendly staff , hot tub , indoor pool , great food in the only roof top restaurant in Vic with a 360 view . Amazing place,. I have a 50% off return tik from seattle to vic on the clipper . I am leaving on the 315 pm on friday if anyone wants the tik . Call me anyone

Friday
6-9pm Harbour Sprints (Polo players encouraged to enter! Belleville St between government and oswego, where the tournament will be held see http://vicf.ca/events/hotel-grand-pacific-harbour-sprint-series)
9pm - building courts at the belleville street location
9pm(ish) - pick up at night court (Fernwood Community Centre on Gladstone at Fernwood, see map. Note most of Victoria will still be building boards but people are welcome to go over whenever)
11pm - Midnight Mystery Bike Ride starting at Centennial Square (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_12647956100)

If you are getting in before 9 I would come straight to Belleville to watch the end of the sprints, that is the main meeting place. From there people can head to the fernwood courts if they like. If you are getting in after 9, we will definitely still be at the belleville location setting up for an hour or few, but you can call my cell (250-686-2775) if you want to find out what's up. If I don't answer its cause were working so just keep trying!

i cant fuckin wait to hang out with my out of towners YAYAYAYAYAYAYA HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAHPHHHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO Sjndoahdiubdkjbaabd you are allllllll going adiuadiuaydyusbuydguyudhgiaudghiaudgiaugaduygdauygudsgausgdd fuckin sbn

i cant fuckin wait to hang out with my out of towners YAYAYAYAYAYAYA HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAHPHHHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO Sjndoahdiubdkjbaabd you are allllllll going adiuadiuaydyusbuydguyudhgiaudghiaudgiaugaduygdauygudsgausgdd fuckin sbn

Friday
6-9pm Harbour Sprints (Polo players encouraged to enter! Belleville St between government and oswego, where the tournament will be held see http://vicf.ca/events/hotel-grand-pacific-harbour-sprint-series)
9pm - building courts
9pm(ish) - pick up at night court (Fernwood Community Centre on Gladstone at Fernwood, see map. Note most of Victoria will still be building boards but people are welcome to go over whenever)
11pm - Midnight Mystery Bike Ride starting at Centennial Square (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_12647956100)

Saturday
9:30am - swiss round starts. We will post first round games tomorrow. We know a lot of Seattle isn't arriving until 10:30ish
3pm - World Naked Bike Ride. We will have a 30 min break for people to attend the start, assuming the games are running on time. We need to start the 4th round of games by 3:30pm latest.
6:30pm - estimated end of tournament

Friday
6-9pm Harbour Sprints (Polo players encouraged to enter! Belleville St between government and oswego, where the tournament will be held see http://vicf.ca/events/hotel-grand-pacific-harbour-sprint-series)
9pm - building courts
9pm(ish) - pick up at night court (Fernwood Community Centre on Gladstone at Fernwood, see map. Note most of Victoria will still be building boards but people are welcome to go over whenever)
11pm - Midnight Mystery Bike Ride starting at Centennial Square (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_12647956100)

Saturday
9:30am - swiss round starts. We will post first round games tomorrow. We know a lot of Seattle isn't arriving until 10:30ish
3pm - World Naked Bike Ride. We will have a 30 min break for people to attend the start, assuming the games are running on time. We need to start the 4th round of games by 3:30pm latest.
6:30pm - estimated end of tournament

Most of Victoria will be making runs with lumber from my house (1334 burleith) to Belleville street during the sprints so that we can begin construction as soon as the sprints are done.

9pm - building courts at the belleville street location

For anyone coming on the Clipper or Black Ball ferries on friday evening, if you are arriving between 6 and 11 just turn left on belleville street when you leave the clipper terminal and you will see the event location a block away. Hang out and have fun, you will find us.

For people coming in from up the penninsula, if you are getting in before 9 I would come straight to Belleville to watch the end of the sprints, that is the main meeting place for you to find us, meet your billet host or congregate to play pick up. You will be able to find us there.

From Belleville people can head to the fernwood courts if they like (Fernwood Community Centre on Gladstone at Fernwood, see map link in post above). If you are getting in after 9, we will definitely still be at the belleville location setting up for an hour or few, but you can call my cell (250-686-2775) if you want to find out what's up. If I don't answer its cause were working so just keep trying!

Thank you so much Victoria. You went all out on this tournament. Special what what to Nick and Naomi who always seem to find a way to make me comfortable. Big ups to Rory and Drunky. Love playing with you guys. Big thanks to the Guardians for three amazing games over the course of the weekend. Thanks Rawbie for the Dick of the Week award. I figured out just how arbitrary that award really is. Thanks to BC Ferries for the weirdest and most amazing ferry ride ever. Orcas, Tap Out, Indian wrestlers, Schizophrenia, Careless Whisper, etc.

victoria was popping. thanks to martin (And the rest of east van), machine, pete, all of seattle (you know who you are), victoria (henry, nick and naomi [I love you two with all of my heart, nice first introduction, and the others (you know who you are, olympia, eugene, nanaimo)... it won't be the last time we meet] and the rest of the players were great. I'm sorry for being angry, hope you enjoyed me when I was happy, think I'll visit victoria again and go on a long extended bike ride around the entire place. so much exposure to the outside world for bike polo, I hope they see it as serious, but also fun, (The public) and will begin to give you guys some more love. dirt jumping is rad, but balls in the city was beautiful. again, thanks to everyone I met, for all of your hospitality, love, introductions (again and again), and good wishes. I watched so much of your polo, I hope you watched mine and enjoyed it.

Thanx to one and all for a stellar tournament played in shorts and T- Shirts ,though i beg ya to still throw the Victoria Winter Mixer coz it's awesome. Victoria your bike polo club is superb . I loved how nothin is a problem and you all just get on with it and make it happen.Some favorite moments were definitely getting to say NNNNNNNNNNNNNanaimo on numerous occassions as your teams faced the poloverse with stealth , strength and ability with big eff off smiles and Rory Bear style and power , hanging with my new polobuddies T-Rex, Pete and Maxx , seeing Maxx get a ball to the head from Dusty after he'd delivered one to Cordelia 1/2 n hour prior (both non fatal accidents) , gettin to endlessly bitch Martin out about his choice of breakfast place after listening to Robbie Boardz endlessly bitch about "the big Ditch" all weekend , Justin from E. Van explaining that " .....it's just like water-polo but on bikes. "(still laffin as i type) , hearing that Tall George was gonna be just fine only prettier (and gettin to hang with Lisa a bit more than the last times), gettin beaten by the Gaurdians x2 , hangin with Leon @ his 50th Tournie (hell Yeah) , seeing Drunkie Unkies beard grow between games while Rory Bear converted energy into muscle with every breath, seeing Eugene enjoy polo with so much more ahead of them , being asked by Bill to play on his Posse (most honoured and thanx for the DAB beer) , nearly gettin cuffed by Coyo , Troy and Sterling (you guys rock) , gettin a Hi Five off wee Ryan during the awards ceremony and gettin to act the Penguin , seeing Jeremy crash spectacularly , smokin Cubans with Champagne and snakebite , John's Place, Nick and Naomis oasis , build up , tear down and everything in between. Luv you all . Gotta sleep

what an unbelievably good time. my weekend started friday in vancouver, and didn't end till tuesday night when i finally got a full night's sleep. sorry to those in EV that i left behind. what a spectacular fuck up. replacement iphone batteries anyone? Big thanks to victoria for doing what you do best, having fun. Big thanks to my teammates, and big big ups to the Bunny Killers for continuing to put Nanaimo on the map. big thanks for my homegrown teammates for taking us to top 5, against some serious competition.

thanks for the photos... i love looking at pictures from west coast tournaments and seeing so many familiar faces... looked like a fun time in the capital... robbie & dog snaps aces...Machine your recap was my favorite...especially about Drunkie's beard....

I'm finally caught up enough on sleep and work to write something. First off, I want to thank everyone who came out. You all made it possible to have such a great polo weekend. Street courts ain't pretty, but I heard maybe three complaints about them all weekend, and that is rad. I'm just so stoked to have seen such a good weekend of hanging out. Minimal drama. Great games. Lots of people seeing polo for the first time. Thanks to everyone that talked to a spectator and told them what polo is about.

BIG BIG THANK YOUS to everyone who kept their drinks in water bottles and opaque cups all weekend. I had some old people come up to me on the second day and say something to the effect of 'it's so nice that all the drinking is on the other side of Harbour'. Anyone who I hassled about the booze, I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. You all did great, but we still had to be a hardasses about it. Thank you again for working with us on that.

Thanks as well to everyone from Victoria and also from out of town that helped out and made things run smoothly. Special thanks to Camilo for being security on the Saturday night, and Tambay for letting him.